Draft Minutes

Distributive/Distance Education Meeting

August 7, 2008

12:00 noon

PCR

Attending: Pamela Atkinson, John Frietas, Charlene Morimoto, Joyce Moore, Gayle Partlow, Maria Reisch, Ken Sherwood, Amy Sirott

Schedule of Classes. The committee discussed the importance of listing online classes both by department in main section of the Schedule of Classes and also as a group of all online courses (not hybrid) in a special section in the back of the schedule.

Platform. The committee discussed current platforms being used on campus. eTUDES is the primary platform but Moodle is being considered for fall 2009 because of the $70,000 fee for eTUDES.

Course Certification. A curriculum form was distributed for discussion. The one-page form is designed to ensure that the course is approved for offering online and is attached to the regular course outline. The committee members discussed wording on the form that will ensure appropriate use of internet, email, conferencing, and other electronic data. The intent is for the form to certify all online options for a course—both hybrid and completely on line courses. Maria Reisch will distribute a copy of the form for input to the D/DL committee members. The Distant Education form and policy will be brought to the Department Chairs Workshop on August 26.

Instructor Certification. The committee discussed criteria that would qualify faculty to teach online.

  1. Certification criteria as used in the eTUDES and other course management software (SMS) training (will be provided by Pamela Atkinson). Certification will be required when CMS software is changed significantly.
  2. List of Instructors who are currently certified (will be provided by Pamela Atkinson.
  3. The D/DL Committee will provide Academic Deans and Department Chairs with regularly updated lists of qualified instructors.
  4. The D/DL Committee will request that Chairs and Academic Deans notify the committee before a new online course is scheduled and confirm that the instructor and the course is certified by the committee

Online Course Certification.*

The course should meet minimum qualifications as presented in the Seven Principles of Effective teaching: A Practical Guide for Evaluating Online Courses, by Charles Graham, et.al (This material was mentioned relative to the curriculum form but not discussed in the detail below.)

Clear Policy.

  1. policy should include types of communication that should take place over different channels. (Do not send technical support questions to the instructor, send them to the tech support.)
  2. The public discussion forum is to be used for all communications except grade-related questions.
  1. Prompt Feed back. Policy should set clear standards for instructors’ timelines for responding to messages. Feedback should be provided both in the form of information and
  2. Good Practice Encourages Cooperation Among Students
  3. Policy should include well-designed discussion assignments that facilitate meaningful cooperation among students. (i.e. Required student participation—included in grade. Discussions should focus on a task; tasks should always result in a product; learners should receive feedback on their discussions; evaluation should be based on the quality of postings and not the length or number; instructor should post expectation for discussions.)
  4. Good Practice Encourages Active Learning
  5. Policy should encourage formal asynchronous presentations
  6. Good Practice Emphasize Time on Task
  7. Policy should include deadline for completing task rather than allowing students to work at their own pace.
  8. Good Practice Communicate High Expectations
  9. Good practice Respects Diverse talents and Ways of Learning

*Note to D/DL Committee members. Please refer to the Developing an Online Course distributed 3/18/08.

Should we plan to develop a one page check off form for the course? We can use the principles listed above,Seven Principles of Effective teaching: A Practical Guide for Evaluating Online Coursesas well material distributed earlier Template for the Design and Development of Online Courses.by A. Henne. (attached). We should also include guidelines fromthe ACCJC Distance Learning Manual (pages 13 and 14 list 12 criteria for insuring quality in curriculum and instruction.)